Football Licensing Authority

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the 1999 Annual Report of the Football Licensing Authority.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gave his approval for the 1999 annual report and accounts of the Football Licensing Authority to be laid before Parliament on 7 December. The Secretary of State was satisfied that the Football Licensing Authority had met the terms and conditions of its grant from the Government and fully achieved its objectives which were agreed with Government.

Football Licensing Authority

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to introduce legislation to transform the Football Licensing Authority into the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government propose to reconstitute the Football Licensing Authority as the Sports Grounds Safety Authority as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Historic Cinemas

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to introduce statutory protection for historic cinemas on the same basis as that awarded to theatres.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government see no case for additional safeguards for historic cinemas beyond those already available under current listed building legislation. Any cinema which my right honourable friend has listed as being of architectural or historic interest is protected on the same basis as applies to any other listed building. Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, listed building consent is required for the carrying out of works resulting in the demolition of a listed building or for any alteration or extension which would affect its character as a building of special architectural interest. Conservation area consent is required for the demolition of an unlisted building within a conservation area. The Act also allows local authorities to take action where a historic building has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk.

Tourism Forum

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will take as a result of the recommendations put forward by members of the Tourism Forum which met on 15 December.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Tourism Forum meeting on 15 December was a great success and furnished wide-ranging and productive discussion. The English Tourism Council is preparing a note of the key points, and issues raised at the forum will be fed into ministerial discussion at the Tourism Summit on 1 March 2000.

Cenotaph: Laying and Removal of Wreaths

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date in each of the last three years the wreaths laid at the Cenotaph during Remembrance Week were subsequently removed.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Wreaths laid at the Cenotaph during Remembrance Week were removed in 1997 on 22 November, in 1998 on 22 November and 1999 on 28 November.

Football: Women's World Cup

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to Fifa about Fifa's decision to move the next women's association football World Cup from 2003 to 2002, the year scheduled for the holding of the men's World Cup; and what they anticipate will be the consequences of the change of date upon the publicity given to the women's World Cup by the press and broadcasters.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Neither the Football Association nor the Government have been notified by Fifa of any plans to change the date of the women's World Cup. We share the FA's aim that women's football should be recognised as a sport in its own right and would not wish for any direct comparison to be made of the women's World Cup with other football tournaments, particularly if it would affect the development of the women's game.

Playing of Football by Women

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken in 1999 to promote the playing of football by women.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government fully support initiatives that increase participation in the women's game, and Sport England has made women's sport, and women's football in particular, a priority in grant allocation for community capital projects, its small grants programme and the Active Sports Programme. Furthermore, funding has been made available for the BAA Millennium Youth Games, which includes women's football. The Sport England funding is a combination of lottery and Exchequer funding. Ultimately, however, overall responsibility for the development of the women's game in England falls to the Football Association.

BBC Online: Funding

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they have received on whether European Union rules would forbid funding BBC Online from advertising revenue while it remains a service funded by the licence fee payer.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Advertising as a possible funding source for BBC Online is not forbidden under EU rules.

Sports Tourism: Contribution to UK Economy

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the contribution made by sports tourism to the economy of the United Kingdom.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no reliable data to determine the contribution made by sports tourism at present. However, on 11 January the British Tourist Authority together with the Minister for Tourism, Janet Anderson, and the Minister for Sport, Kate Hoey, will be launching a Sports Tourism Action Plan for Britain. One of the aims will be to better estimate the economic impact made by sports tourism in Britain. It will also identify ways for Britain to take advantage of the wealth of opportunity which is offered through sport.

Local Radio Development: North London Licence Option

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they expect the Radio Authority to make available a second radio frequency for use in north or north-west London; and, if so, when the new local licence is likely to be advertised.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Radio Authority announced in 1998 the possibility of advertising a further licence for north London, but the available frequency would offer more limited coverage than the licence awarded to Choice FM North London Ltd on 1 October 1999.
	The Radio Authority is expected to review the priorities for future local radio development in the spring. It will be for authority members to consider the option of advertising a new north London licence against retaining the frequency for continued use by short-term restricted service licences in the London area, given the scarcity of spectrum for this purpose.

Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reconsider their present policy not to support Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through their bilateral programme.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK already provides substantial support for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through our support for UNRWA, to which the UK is the second largest European bilateral donor. A further £50,000 per annum bilateral assistance has been made available for 2000 and 2001 specifically to assist Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The embassy also has at its disposal a number of other DfID and FCO funds available for Lebanese development projects including support for Palestinian refugees, for example DfID's Small Grants Scheme worth circa £150,000 in 1998.

Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance they have provided to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through United Kingdom and international non-governmental organisations.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We provide substantial support for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and other host countries, primarily through our support for UNRWA's core budget. Our contribution in 1999 was £8 million, a 33 per cent increase over 1997. In addition, we have made available, through the British Embassy, modest sums for direct bilateral support, and have agreed a further £50,000 for 2000 and 2001.

EU Membership: Withdrawal

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, given that the treaties governing NATO and the World Trade Organisation specifically provide for the free and unilateral withdrawal of member states from those organisations, no such provision exists in the treaties governing membership of the European Union.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We see no need for the Treaties governing membership of the Union to include a specific provision on unilateral withdrawal. It remains open to Parliament to repeal the European Communities Act 1972, the logical consequence of which would be to withdraw from the EU. The terms of such a withdrawal would be for the Government to negotiate with the other member states.

Sudan

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What reports they have received concerning arms purchases by the Government of Sudan as a result of income from oil derived from the southern provinces; and whether they will discuss these reports within the European Union, the Inter-Government Authority on Development, and more widely.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Oil was first exported from the Sudan in August of this year. We are not aware of any arms purchases being made with the income from this business.
	We keep in regular touch with the EU, IGAD and others on the situation in the Sudan, including on the impact of oil. We are making the case strongly, including in Khartoum, that revenues should be used for development projects and that there should be transparency in accounting for expenditure. We note that certain public assurances have been given to that effect, and look to the Government of Sudan to implement them.
	We expect the EU arms embargo to remain as long as the war in Sudan continues.

Trepca Mines, Kosovo

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why French troops, part of KFOR, prevented local miners from inspecting and if possible re-starting production of the Trepca mine in Kosovo; and what is the current situation there.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: UNMIK has judged that the Trepca mines are under public ownership and thus under UNMIK's jurisdiction. It is therefore a matter for UNMIK (supported by KFOR) to decide on the most appropriate method of assessing the potential of the mines and to decide how, if and when they should reopen.
	An agreement signed earlier this month will allow 200 Albanian miners to return to the Stari Trg mine, part of the Trepca complex, to carry out a six-week assessment. A dozen Serbs who have been maintaining the mine will continue to work there.

Ibero-American Summit, Havana: Declaration

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their reaction to the statement of the representatives of Governments at the Central and South America conference in Havana, rejecting territorial application of laws and interference by European countries in the internal affairs of other countries.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have noted with interest the declaration made at the Ibero-American Summit in Havana.

Diplomatic Posts: Open Competition

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is now their policy, or has been at any stage, that senior diplomatic postings may be filled by open competition, making them available to non-professional diplomats.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have opened certain posts to open competition as part of our continuing strategy to ensure that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is as professional, adaptable, effective and innovative as possible. We ran an open competition in 1998-99 to fill the post of Consul-General in New York. There is an open competition currently in progress for the posts of Deputy High Commissioner Mumbai (Bombay), Consul-General Toronto and Consul-General Sao Paulo.

UN Security Council

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the question by the Lord Marlesford of 16 December, whether they support the case for greater representation of developing countries on the United Nations Security Council; and, if so, by what method this could be achieved.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is essential that enlargement of the United Nations Security Council should include additional seats for developing countries if we are to make the Council more representative of the modern world. Better representation for developing countries must mean new permanent seats as well as non-permanent seats. For any agreement on enlargement to take effect, the members of the United Nations will have to adopt, by a two-thirds majority, an amendment to Articles 23 and 27 of the UN Charter. This must then be ratified by two-thirds of the UN membership, including all the permanent members of the Security Council.

European Commission Administration

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied with the administrative arrangements in the European Commission for covering political relations as well as aid, development, trade and economic relations with Africa.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Since the beginning of the term of the new Commission, EU relations with Africa have been the responsibility of four Commission bodies: DG (Directorate General) External Relations, DG Trade, DG Development, and the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). The Service Commun Relex (SCR) is responsible for implementing the financing decisions for all external relations DGs. We supported reorganisation as part of the reform of the Commission's structures and are working closely with these bodies in order to maximise their effectiveness.

European Court of Human Rights: Assistance to UK Applicants

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is their policy to support and assist British citizens living abroad with any application to the European Court of Human Rights against a foreign country; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Government officials are able to provide factual information about the European Convention on Human Rights and the Court to anyone considering pursuing an application, whether against a foreign government or Her Majesty's Government.
	Beyond that there is no need for the Government to provide assistance to applicants, since the Council of Europe has its own effective system of legal aid for applicants to the court.

European Court of Human Rights: Assistance to UK Applicants

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will examine the case of Mr Dick-Erickson, who has applied for a re-hearing before the European Court of Human Rights of the case of alleged medical manslaughter of his mother in a public hospital in Florence with a view to assisting him with his application.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Council of Europe has its own effective system of legal aid for applicants to the European Court of Human Rights. Her Majesty's Government does not intercede in such cases. The court will decide on the merits of Mr Erickson's case.

Angola

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the latest assessment of humanitarian need in Angola; and what bilateral and multilateral action they are taking to help meet it.

Baroness Amos: The UN estimates that 3.7 million war-affected people will need to be provided with humanitarian assistance during the year 2000. The UK has committed over £48 million bilateral humanitarian assistance since the first UN appeal in June 1993 (of which some £43 million has been disbursed). About £7.5 million of this has been committed in 1999 to international Non Governmental Organisations and UN Agencies, and includes US$6 million (some £3.75 million) for food aid through the World Food Programme. In addition, we contribute through our membership of the European Community.
	Prevailing insecurity has made the delivery of assistance dangerous and expensive. The United Kingdom, as a member of the UN Security Council, has called on all concerned to help facilitate safe passage for humanitarian personnel and the delivery of emergency assistance in areas under their control.

Withholding Tax Proposal

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the comment by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 2 December (H.L. Deb., col. 915), whether in September 1998 the Government indicated that the threat of a withholding tax was resulting in a flow of money away from the European Union, particularly from London.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government's position on this directive was set out in its paper of September 1999 entitled International bonds and the draft Directive on Taxation of Savings, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Ufl Ltd

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will set out the framework, including controls, within which the department will provide financial support to Ufl Ltd.

Baroness Blackstone: Ufl Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee established by the Secretary of State in October 1998. The company is seeking charitable status. By making use of information and communications technologies it will encourage innovative and cost-effective ways to learn.
	The department exercises a number of controls over Ufl Ltd. The company's memorandum and articles of association were approved by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State also has the right to appoint the chairman and between 30 and 49 per cent of the board directors/members of the company and to approve the appointment of the chief executive.
	The funding agreement between the Secretary of State and Ufl Ltd provides for a number of checks and controls on the spending of public funds. It specifies that a financial plan which sets out the company's financial proposals and reflects the guidance the Secretary of State may give Ufl Ltd shall be submitted to the Secretary of State annually. The financial plan must take into account guidance issued by the Secretary of State annually. The financial plan must be approved by the Secretary of State and it is subsequently monitored by the department. The financial plan relates Ufl Ltd's costs to its activities in the year covered by the plan. The funding agreement and the financial plan provide the basis for financial support.
	In recognition of the market in which Ufl Ltd will operate, the company will own the assets it creates (mainly intellectual property rights on learning products) and retain any receipts from the disposal of assets. The department will take account of any income received by the company as a result of government investment, including asset disposal proceeds, in fixing the level of future financial support. This regime will apply only so long as the company receives government support; any such income received by the company after it has achieved financial independence will be treated as its own.
	The funding agreement also provides for Ufl Ltd's intellectual property rights to be assigned to the Secretary of State if the funding agreement is terminated due to Ufl Ltd's breach of contract or insolvency. The memorandum of the company provides that if the company is wound up or dissolved the Secretary of State has a right of veto over the disposition of any remaining assets.

Grammar Schools

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) For which grammar schools or groups of grammar schools or selective areas have letters been received by Electoral Reform Ballot Services notifying an intention to organise a petition to trigger a ballot to open up these schools to children of all abilities;
	(b) On which dates these letters were received;
	(c) On which dates the writers of these letters were notified of the threshold number of signatures required for a valid petition; and
	(d) What is the threshold number of signatures required for each grammar school or group of grammar schools or area for which letters have been received.

Baroness Blackstone: The requested information is as follows:
	
		
			 a b c d 
			 Petition area and type Date of request to set a threshold Date on which threshold was set Threshold figure 
			 Barnet (group of 3  schools) 1 September 1999 25 November 1999 7,209 
			 Birmingham (group  of 2 schools) 1 September 1999 threshold not yet  set 
			 Birmingham (group  of 6 schools) 1 September 1999 threshold not yet  set 
			 Kent (whole area) 1 September 1999 threshold not yet  set 
			 Ripon (stand-alone) 7 September 1999 26 October 1999 587 
			 Sutton (whole area) 27 September  1999 2 December 1999 7,375 
			 Trafford (whole  area) 1 September 1999 13 December 1999 8,518

Secondary Schools

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For the latest year available, how many:
	(a) Secondary comprehensive schools in England (excluding the sixth form) are of sizes below 301, 301-500, 501-700, 701-900, 901-1,100, 1,101-1,300, 1,301-1,500, and over 1,500 pupils; and
	(b) Secondary grammar schools in England (excluding the sixth form) are of sizes below 301, 301-500, 501-700, 701-900, 901-1,100, 1,101-1,300, 1,301-1,500, and over 1,500 pupils; and
	What is the range of sizes of sixth forms in secondary comprehensive schools in England and what is the range of sizes of sixth forms in secondary schools in England.

Baroness Blackstone: The information available is shown in the following tables.
	
		Number of comprehensive schools and selective grammar schools, by size in England1--January 1999
		
			  Secondary Selective 
			  Comprehensive Grammar 
			  Number of schools of size 
			 0 to 300 37 1 
			 301 to 500 242 24 
			 501 to 700 595 92 
			 701 to 900 752 40 
			 901 to 1,100 675 7 
			 1,101 to 1,300 393 0 
			 1,301 to 1,500 114 0 
			 1,501 & over 36 0 
			  
			 Total 2,844 164 
		
	
	1 As defined by the number of pupils of compulsory school age.
	
		Number of comprehensive schools and maintained secondary schools, by size of sixth form1 in England--January 1999 
		
			  Secondary Comprehensive All Secondary Schools 
			 Sixth Form of size1 
			 0 to 50 104 121 
			 51 to 100 281 329 
			 101 to 150 384 420 
			 151 to 200 344 391 
			 201 to 250 218 283 
			 251 to 300 111 139 
			 301 and over 129 148 
			  
			 Total 1,571 1,831 
		
	
	1As defined by the number of pupils in school above compulsory school age.

Holiday-taking and Disability

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conclusions were reached at the Department of Employment Conference for People with Disabilities (held on 14 December) with regard to holiday-taking and disability; and whether they would publish both the proceedings of the workshop that focused on this issue and the Government's response to its recommendations.

Baroness Blackstone: The "accessibility" conference, which my department held in co-operation with a number of other government departments on 14 December, ranged widely over access issues. Workshops covered access to further, higher and adult education; access to employment; access to the National Health Service; using direct payments to empower people with learning difficulties; and whether disability was a barrier to tourism. Discussions in each of these workshops led to a worthwhile exchange of information and experiences and the dissemination of good practice. The workshop on tourism was facilitated by the English Tourism Council (ETC). It provided DCMS and its sponsored body the ETC with a greater understanding of the key difficulties facing disabled travellers. This will assist them in their aim of making English tourism the most accessible and welcoming in Europe.
	A conference report, which will include a summary of each workshop, will be available in due course. It will be sent to everyone who attended the conference and will be available more widely.

Primary School Pupils: Spelling Tests

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give further information about the new spelling tests for primary school pupils reported in the press on 12 December; which agency is developing the tests; and which age group they are intended for; and
	Whether they will make sample copies of the new spelling tests for primary school pupils available for inspection by Members of the House of Lords.

Baroness Blackstone: Spelling will continue to be tested through the statutory key stage 1 and key stage 2 national curriculum tests. It also forms part of the optional tests for year 3, year 4 and year 5 which most primary schools take advantage of. As part of the National Literacy Strategy the department has produced a spelling bank booklet that contains lists of words and ideas to help in the teaching of the key stage 2 spelling objectives set out in the National Literacy Strategy Framework for teaching. These lists provide the basis for the informal spelling tests that, as part of the National Literacy Strategy, they are encouraged to undertake regularly. Copies of the spelling bank have been placed in the Library.

Gurkha Pensions

Lord Walker of Doncaster: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will complete their examination of Gurkha pensions.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The examination of Gurkha pensions and gratuities is now complete. Within the terms of the tri-partite agreement (TPA) between India, Nepal and the UK Gurkha pensions will be increased to allow for a welfare related cash uplift to take account of Indian government benefits in kind that will at least double the pension payments for all Gurkha pensioners. Increases will be introduced from 1 April 2000. Pension increases will continue to be paid immediately after 15 years' service and, where appropriate, passed on to the widow and then a child up to the age of 25 years. Pensions will be reviewed in the normal way and will benefit from cost of living increases each year. The Nepalese Government have made representations throughout this examination and both the Nepalese and Indian governments have been notified of the increases.

Meningitis C Vaccine

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are now adequate supplies available of meningitis C vaccine; and
	Whether there will be adequate supplies for the next phase of the meningitis C vaccination programme.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Deliveries of the new meningococcal C conjugate vaccine began on 25 October and have continued each week since then. The implementation of the meningitis C immunisation programme is vaccine supply led and as soon as each new delivery of vaccine is received from the manufacturers it is distributed to pharmacies and general practitioners.
	Since the start of the programme up to and including 26 November, a total of 1,734,560 doses of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine had been distributed throughout the United Kingdom. The immunisation of young people aged 15, 16 and 17 years began from 1 November and the immunisation of babies when they are due for their routine vaccines at two, three and four months and around 13 months began from 29 November. Supplies of conjugate meningococcal C vaccine for the first part of the childhood programme (two, three, four and 13 months) have been increased and deliveries to GPs and pharmacists from 29 November onwards have also increased. From the information we have received from the manufacturers, I am advised that there will be sufficient vaccine to immunise the whole of the target group by the end of the year in line with the plan as set out in the Chief Medical Officer's letter of 18 October, copies of which are available in the Library.

Public Health Observatories

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made in setting up the promised public health observatories.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The White Paper Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation, copies of which are available in the Library, announced the establishment of public health observatories. Plans for these are currently being developed in each National Health Service region of England. Public health observatories will support the implementation of Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation by working closely with the NHS, local authorities, government offices for the regions, regional development agencies and NHS Executive regional offices. They will form a national network of public health expertise and undertake surveillance of population health.

Haemophiliacs: Factor 8 and Deaths from Hepatitis C

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish documents relevant to the death of haemophiliacs from hepatitis C after being given Factor 8, referred to in the Observer on 21 November; and, if not, why not.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are two documents referred to in the Observer article. The first is a letter about manufacturing practice dated 2 May 1979 from Dr Richard Lane, then Director of the Blood Products Laboratory, to an official in the Department of Health and Social Security. The second has been identified as a paper written by officials on 21 December 1979 advising Ministers on the future of the Blood Products Laboratory. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library.

Breast Pumps

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of health authorities and trusts have made sufficient breast pumps available for free loan to mothers of premature or sick babies who cannot feed at the breast.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The provision of breast pumps in National Health Service trusts is a matter for local decision. Information about the proportion of health authorities and trusts making pumps available free to mothers of sick and premature babies is not held centrally.

Primary Care Groups: Complementary Medicine

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have of the effect of primary care groups on the provision of complementary medicine within the National Health Service; and if they do not have this information, whether they will commission a study to discover it.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Primary care groups may include complementary medicine within the range of services they provide if they consider that this is appropriate to the needs of their patients and in line with the locally agreed health improvement programme.
	As part of a larger exercise to monitor the work of primary care groups, a survey by Manchester University has asked them to indicate their intentions for commissioning complementary therapies. A report on this survey should be published in spring, and will inform a new research project by Sheffield University which will compare actual provision of complementary medicine by primary care groups in the coming year with its provision five years earlier.
	In the meantime, officials at the Department of Health have conducted a separate informal survey of the attitude of primary care groups towards the provision of complementary medicine. If the results are typical, early indications are that at least half of all primary care groups provide some form of complementary medicine. The results are still being analysed, and will need to be compared with the result of the Manchester survey. In due course we will consider what lessons the results provide and how best to disseminate them to National Health Service service commissioners.

British Fluoridation Society: Government Support

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 8 April 1998 (WA 144) and the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 6 December 1999 (WA 76):
	(a) When they first made a financial contribution to the British Fluoridation Society;
	(b) What were the contributions for the years not already listed in the above Written Answers; and
	(c) What has been the basis for the differing allocations year by year.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The British Flouridation Society first received government support in 1975-76. Contributions before 1987-88 were:
	
		
			 Year Amount (£) 
			 1975-76 4,500 
			 1976-77 5,500 
			 1977-78 5,500 
			 1978-79 5,500 
			 1979-80 5,500 
			 1980-81 11,000 
			 1981-82 14,000 
			 1982-83 15,000 
			 1983-84 15,000 
			 1984-85 15,000 
			 1985-86 30,000 
			 1986-87 20,000 
		
	
	Allocations have varied in accordance with a business plan agreed with the Department of Health.

British Fluoridation Society: Government Support

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is a proper use of taxpayers' money to make grants of £154,000 during the past two years to the British Fluoridation Society, in view of the differing views on the moral, commercial and health aspects of water fluoridation; and
	What scrutiny measures are in place to ensure that the £154,000 of taxpayers' money given to the British Fluoridation Society is under proper financial control; and
	Whether the British Fluoridation Society (BFS) has supplied them with details of what use has been made and is being made of the £154,000 of taxpayers' money given to them; and what measures are taken to ensure that any information disseminated by the BFS using that money is accurate and impartial.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) monitors relevant research, and maintains a database on safety, efficacy and legislative issues arising from the fluoridation of water. Since 1975 successive governments have funded the BFS to help promote and implement their policies on oral health and to provide objective, evidence based advice to all interested parties.
	Like other recipients of government funds, the BFS works to an annual business plan agreed with the Department of Health and submits audited accounts.

Removal and Retention of Tissues at Post Mortem

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any evidence of the removal of glands, particularly pituitary glands, from the bodies of deceased children without the consent of their next of kin.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: As announced on 6 October, the Chief Medical Officer is conducting an investigation into the removal and retention of tissues and organs at post mortem. He will report his findings to the Secretary of State for Health in September.

Disabled 16 and 17 year-olds: Direct Payments

Baroness Wilkins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to implement their commitment to extend direct payments under the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 to 16 and 17 year-olds as announced by the Secretary of State for Health, the right honourable Alan Milburn, at the Annual Social Services Conference on 29 October; and whether this will require legislation.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Primary legislation is required before local authorities can make direct payments to disabled 16 and 17 year-old children. The Carers and Disabled Children Bill was introduced in another place by my honourable friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr Pendry) on 15 December and will allow local authorities in England and Wales to make direct payments to disabled 16 and 17 year-olds.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Lord Davies of Coity: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the third report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The third report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) was published on 20 December 1999. Copies were placed in the Library.
	The PPRS third report to Parliament covers both the operation of the 1993 PPRS until it ended in September 1999 and the introduction of the new scheme from October 1999. It provides an insight into the running of the PPRS; reports on considerations taken into account by the Government in formulating the 1999 PPRS; and describes the principal features of the new scheme, including the benefits expected to arise from it for the National Health Service and the British pharmaceutical industry.

London Taxis

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have to improve the availability of taxis in London, particularly at night time; and
	Whether the regulation of London taxi fares takes account of the comparison between fares in London and those in New York, Paris and Berlin; and whether London fares are higher.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: London taxi fares are set by the Secretary of State on the basis of a formula, established after consultation with the taxi trade. The formula reflects the operating costs of a taxi in the circumstances of London. The extra charges which taxi drivers add to each fare between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. were increased by 50 per cent in April. However, we are conducting a research study into the supply of, and demand for, London taxis, especially at night, to help form further consideration. The study is not yet complete; results will be published.

DVLA Response Time

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What efforts are they making to speed up the response time of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Lord Whitty: Approximately 80,000 items of mail are received at DVLA daily. For security and operational reasons, DVLA post is stored unopened in strict date order and is called for processing in that order. Currently there is a four-day queue of unopened mail, which is about normal for the time of year. The level of work awaiting processing is carefully monitored each day.
	On the driving licence side, which accounts for 20,000 to 30,000 applications per day, DVLA undertakes to issue driving licences and return original documents to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the year.
	In cases where a driver declares a medical condition--amounting to some 1,100 applications a day--because of the increased complexities the service standard is five weeks for a car licence and seven weeks for a bus or lorry licence. Some current cases in these categories are taking longer. Action is being taken to bring this service up to standard and the position is steadily improving.
	The advertised service standards for vehicle registration and licensing services have also been met or bettered during 1999.
	There are no exceptional operational difficulties at the agency. Over the past 18 months major changes to both driver and vehicle computer systems have been successfully introduced.

Sheep Dip Disposal: DETR Licences

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many licences have been issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for the disposal of all types of sheep dip.

Lord Whitty: Under transitional arrangements in the Groundwater Regulations 1998, the Environment Agency is deemed to have given authorisation (where the disposal is substantially the same as an existing activity) for applications made between 1 January 1999 and the coming into force of the substantive provisions of the regulations on 1 April, until such applications are finally disposed of. There were 9,088 deemed authorisations to dispose of sheep dip, 1,087 of which had been determined as authorised by the Agency by 30 November, 90 per cent of which are expected to be determined by 31 March 2000 and the remainder as soon as possible thereafter. Since 1 April there have been a further 128 applications for sheep dip disposal authorisation resulting in an additional 10 authorisations being granted by the end of October.

Long-distance Footpaths: Unauthorised Use of Motor Vehicles

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What damage has been done in recent years to long-distance national footpaths through the unauthorised use of motor vehicles.

Lord Whitty: The nationally recogised long-distance trails in England are made up of footpaths, bridleways, byways open to all traffic, roads used as public paths and unclassified roads (and in some places metalled roads). Over some lengths of these trails there is a right of vehicular access and it is on these routes that there are some examples of damage being caused by motorised use. However, neither the Countryside Agency nor ourselves are aware of significant damage having been caused to long-distance footpaths by unauthorised use of vehicles.

Fly-tipping

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the owner or occupier of private land should continue to be responsible for the collection and disposal of litter or dumped material deposited upon such land without authorisation or permission.

Lord Whitty: The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on certain bodies to keep their land clear of litter and refuse so far as is practicable. However, where the occupier neither made nor knowingly caused or permitted the deposit the Environment Agency or local authority may themselves take steps to remove fly-tipped waste. There are at present no plans to change legislation in this area.

Roadside Speed Cameras

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to make more effective use of roadside speed cameras.

Lord Whitty: A number of pilot schemes to test new funding arrangements for speed and traffic light cameras will start on 1 April 2000. This will increase the number of cameras deployed, further deter speed and red light running and thereby achieve the Government's road safety objective. Each pilot scheme will involve local authorities, magistrates' courts, the police and in some cases the Highways Agency and Crown Prosecution Service. The schemes will be based in these eight police areas--Essex, Northampton, Thames Valley, Nottingham, South Wales, Cleveland, Lincolnshire and Strathclyde. In the light of the results of the pilot schemes consideration will be given to the extension of the funding arrangements nationally.

Single Burn Item Test

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will accept the relevance of smoke generation data available from the single burn item test contained in the harmonised European fire safety system.

Lord Whitty: The Government accept that the smoke generation data available from the single burn item test may have a relevance in terms of fire safety but only where it is necessary for showing regulatory compliance in appropriate circumstances such as where fire safety engineering solutions are being considered. Smoke production is an additional declaration within the EU classification system in that it is extra to the normal test measurements such as heat release.

Toxic Smoke from Ignited Construction Products

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to introduce regulations to limit the generation of toxic smoke from ignited construction products by including them in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations.

Lord Whitty: The Government do not have any intention at present to introduce regulations to limit the generation of toxic smoke from ignited construction products. A review of Approved Document B (fire safety) has just been completed, and the 2000 edition of this document will be published in January. This document makes reference to a number of parts of BS 476 (fire tests on building materials and structures) that are considered to give acceptable methods of tests. The key parameters usually considered in these fire tests are the heat release rate and flame spread but not smoke production. These in themselves will also have an effect on smoke production.
	Although there are no proposals at present to introduce smoke production tests as part of the performance standard for regulatory purposes, the use of a fire engineering approach is recognised in Approved Document B and the fact that products have a low smoke emissivity could be used as part of the justification for a particular engineering solution. Further revisions to Approved Document B will be necessary to take account of future harmonised European standards and smoke production will be one of the many issues that will be looked at.

Common Land: Management

Lord Williams of Elvel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any proposals for the management of rural common land in England and Wales: and, if so, when they will appear.

Lord Whitty: In June last year the Department of the Environment published a Good Practice Guide on Managing the Use of Common Land. Copies of this were placed in the Library of the House. We have also announced proposals to give a statutory right of access on foot to registered common land. We are considering whether there should be any further changes to the legislation that affects common land. If so, there will be public consultation on what changes would be desirable.

Single Room Rent Restriction

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the cost of abolishing the single room rent restriction on housing benefit for those under 25 (a) as a gross cost and (b) as a net cost; and how they calculate the difference between the two.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We are unable to estimate with any accuracy the cost of abolishing the single room rent restriction. There is insufficient quantitative information on how this group responded to the change and without this information we cannot estimate the behavioural effects of reversing the change.

Child Support Agency: Administrative Costs

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the administrative costs of the Child Support Agency.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs Faith Boardman. She will write to the noble Earl.
	Letter from the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency, Mrs Faith Boardman, dated 5 January 2000.
	I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to Her Majesty's Government about the administrative costs of the Child Support Agency.
	Our cash allocation for 1998-99 was £203 million, increased mid year by £12 million for customer service initiatives.
	Full details are given in the Agency's published accounts. A copy of the 1998-99 accounts was placed in the library of the House of Commons on 14 July 1999.
	For 1999-2000 the Agency is required to live within its allocation of £218.645 million. Given rising workloads this is a considerable challenge to further improve the 52 per cent efficiency gains already achieved since 1995-96.
	The Agency continually seeks to improve service to the public and live with the resources allocated as well as delivering a service that is cost effective and efficient for the taxpayer.
	I hope this is helpful.

Social Security Benefit: 16 to 17 year-olds

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the cost of restoring full entitlement to social security benefits to 16 to 17 year -olds (a) at the present rates for those under 18 and (b) at full adult rates.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We believe that every young person should have the opportunity to achieve their potential. That is why our aim is to engage 16 to 17 year-olds in education, training or work with training, rather than starting their adult lives dependent on the benefits system.
	Departments are working together to develop and implement the proposals in the Government White Paper Learning to Succeed and the Social Exclusion Unit's report Bridging the Gap which are aimed at supporting young people in making a successful transition from childhood to adult life.
	The estimated annual cost of restoring full entitlement to social security benefits to 16 to 17 year-olds would be £100 million at present rates and £250 million at full adult rates. These costs do not make any allowance for possible changes in labour market behaviour as a result of these changes. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £50 million. 2. Figures are based on data taken from the 1997-98 Family Resources Survey. 3. Answer assumes that full adult rate refers to the rate for single people aged 25 and over.

Social Security Benefit: Cost of Any Increase

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the cost of raising (a) social security benefits across the board by 1 per cent and (b) income support by 1 per cent, assuming no change in the numbers of people dependent on benefits.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The estimated cost of increasing social security benefits across the board by 1 per cent for gainers only is estimated to be £850 million in 2000-01. The estimated cost of increasing income support by 1 per cent for gainers only is estimated to be £130 million in 2000-01. Notes: 1. The figures shown for 2001 arise from the increase in 2000 (no additional change from normal uprating is assumed in 2001). All figures are based on the Treasury economic assumptions as at February 1999. 2. The figures exclude working families tax credit or disabled persons tax credit (family credit/disability working allowance), as these are now under the control of Inland Revenue. 3. Income support forecasts are attained from ASD4 forecasts. 4. All costs are for gainers only and exclude all floaters-on. 5. All costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million and are presented in cash terms.

Organophosphate Sheep Dips

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether manufacturers of licensed organophosphate sheep dips are required to notify the licensing authorities of any changes they make in the trade formulation of their products; and, if so, whether any such notifications were received between 1985 and 1994; what they were; and what reasons were given for any changes.

Baroness Hayman: All changes in formulations to authorised veterinary medicinal products must be notified in advance to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and are subject to scrutiny for authorisation. The active ingredient of every organophosphorus sheep dip is shown on the label of the product. Phenols were voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers from sheep dip products following a review by the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) in 1992. The reasons for the withdrawal of phenols are a matter for the companies concerned. It is likely that they were withdrawn because there was considered to be insufficient return from the market to justify the research needed to satisfy the further requests for data made by the VPC. Details of other changes in formulation could be identified only at disproportionate cost.

Welsh Local Authorities: Financial Support

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the amount of support from central government grant and business rates to local authorities in Wales next year; and what percentage increase this represents.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Government of Wales Act 1998 makes provision for the Secretary of State for Wales to make payments to the National Assembly for Wales out of money provided by the UK Parliament of such amounts as he may determine. However, the allocation of these resources among individual programmes is made according to the Assembly's own priorities. Subject to the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the amount of revenue support grant and the distributable amount of non-domestic rates are matters for the Assembly.

Welsh Local Authorities: Financial Support

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the amount of income support grants to Welsh local authorities next year; and what percentage increase this represents.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The amount of income support grants to Welsh local authorities is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Welsh Local Authorities: Financial Support

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the total amount of specific and special grants given to local authorities in Wales next year; and what percentage increase this represents.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.